Autographic register



Oct 31, 1933- J. A. McKEE ET AL.

UTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Oct. 26, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l JT" i1.

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BY wf AT ORN YS J. A. MCKEE Er AL AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed octfze, 1932 4 Sheng-sheet 2 Oct. 31, 1933. J, A. MCKEE Er AL 1,932,980

` AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Oct. 26. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 INI/EN ToRs.

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Oct. 31, 1933.

J. A. M cKEE ET AL' 1,932,980

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Oct. 26, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 10.

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WTO Nw Patented Oct., 3l, 1933 UNITED' STATES AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER James A) McKee, Oakland, and Clarence L. Johnston, Burlingame, Calif.

Application October 26,

3Y Claims.

This invention relates to an autographic register and stationery therefor.V

There are several types of autographic registers in more or less common use and practically all registers require stationery containing a series or sequence of forms. Usually the stationery einployed is referred to as a manifolding pad or packet andconsists of a series of superposed continuous sheets or strips of paper folded in a zigzag manner to form the packet. Each sheet has a succession of forms printed thereon and each sheet is cut or perforated transversely between the forms to permit tearing and separation from the packet when the forms are lled in. l5

autographic register and the free ends of the superposed sheets forming the packet are advanced by manual or other feeding means over a writing table or surface where the printed form on the uppermost sheet is lled in by writing, typing, et cetera, and duplicates thereof are simultaneously obtained on the underlying sheets by interposed carbon sheets or any other suitable transfer medium, thus insuring an original, a duplicate, a triplicate, or as many additional copies as desired. After the filling in, the sheets are again advanced and the filled in forms are torn ofi to be mailed, led, or otherwise disposed of. Experience has shown that where an original and'duplicate forms are required, it is essential that the printed forms in 'the superposed sheets be maintained in register so that the written or typed matter applied to the uppermost or original form will appear on the same lines or spaces on the duplicates. To insure such registration when a packet of this character is used in an autographic register, feeding and registering devices to advance and register the printed forms are generally required. Such attachments complicate the mechanism in the autographic register. Furthermore, it is usually necessary to provide form pads which, in addition to the cut or perforated transverse lines, require two -enlarged punched holes in each printed form which cooperate with the mechanism in the register to obtain registration of the printed superposed forms. The punched holes add to the cost of the packet, they require space which could otherwise be utilized for printed matter, and as such reduce the useful area of each form sheet, and in addition thereto the punched holes often tend to catch on the edges of the interposed carbon sheets and cause tearing of the same.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and In actual operation the packet is inserted in an 1932. seria1N0.6s9,613

operation not only of the autographic register but also th'e stationery or printed form packets employed; to eliminate feeding mechanisms of any character by so constructing the register that the form sheets may be grasped and manually pulled into position onthe writing table; and further, to provide a simple form of mechanism which utilizes the perforated transverse tear lines between the forms to automatically stop advance of the sheets when they are being manually pulled into place the moment proper position is reached, said mechanism also functioning to bring about register of the forms to be filled in.

The autographic register and the form packet employed are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the form packet.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the form sheets, showing the manner in which the sheets are transversely perforated to provide tear lines between the forms.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a form sheet showing a modified form of tear line.

Fig. 4 is aperspective View of the autographic register.

F g. 5 is a perspective view partly broken away, showing the cover plate in raised position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view partly broken away showing the cover plate and writing table in raised position, said View also showing the stop mechanism and the interior adjustable frame wherein the form packet is placed.

Fig. '7 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the bars whereby an interposed carbon sheet is secured.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of a carbon sheet showing the manner in which it is cut to permit folding of one end of the carbon sheet about the supporting bar.

Fig. 10 shows the bar in position on the carbon sheet and the sheet ready to be folded. v

Fig. l1 shows the manner in which the rst fold is made, and

Fig. 12 shows the manner in which the second or nal fold is made.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. 4 to 7, A indicates in general an autographic register comprising side sections 2 2, end sections 3 3, and a bottom or base section 4. This part of the mechanism will be referred to as the case. Its upper end is open to permit insertion of a printed form packet, hereinafter to be described, but the open end will normally be closed by a plate 5, which will hereinafter be referred to as the writing table, and by a cover plate 6. The writing table and the cover plate are pivotally secured, as at 7, to one end of the outer case and as such may be swung about the pivots to open the case, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when a packet is to be inserted and the free ends of the sheets forming the packet are to be placed in position on the writing table.

Printed form packets of varying sizes are employed and an adjustable interior frame is accordingly employed.` This frame is best shown in Fig. 6. It consists of a pair of side plates 8 and a pair of end plates 9. The ends and lower edge of the side plates 8 are vertically slotted, as indicated at 8a., and the upper edges and ends of the plates 9 are vertically slotted, as indicated at 9a. Such slotting of the side and end plates permits the plates to be adjustable interlocked with relation to each other so that the interior space between the plates may be increased or decreased to receive packets of varying size.

The autographic register disclosed in this instance is for all practical purposes almost devoid of any mechanism with the exception of an automatic stop member generally indicated at B, see Figs. 6 and 7. This member consists of a plunger or flat bar 10 which is vertically slidable in a pair of lugs 1l. The upper end of the plunger terminates in a pair of stop fingers 12 and between them is secured a thumb plate 13, which is engaged by the thumb or any other convenient finger when the stop pins 12 are to be depressed. The plunger, together with the thumb piece 13 and the stop fingers 12, is normally held in the elevated position shown in Fig. 6 by means of a spring 14, said elevated position beng determined by a collar 15 or a similar stop member which is engageable with the lower lug 11. The mechanism just described is the only movable mechanism in the entire register. It is automatic in operation and its function will hereinafter be described.

The writing table, previously referred to, is nothing more or less than a fiat plate, one end of which is cut away, as shownat 16 to clear the automatic stop mechanism just described, and to provide a space where the free ends of the sheets may be grasped when a set of new forms are to be pulled into place. The sides of the table are provided' with channel-shaped flanges such as shown at 17, see Fig. 5. The vertical inner walls 18 of these anges are provided with a series of openings, such as indicated at 18a, and these are provided for the reception of carbon holding bars, as will now be described.

The carbon holding bars are best shown in Fig. 8. They are preferably constructed of thin flat spring steel, such as indicated at 19, to permit them to be readily bent. The center portion is cut away in a V-shaped manner, as disclosed at 20, and the ends are provided with lugs 21 which are adapted to enter the openings 18a formed in the channel-shaped anges on each side of the Writing table. It might be here stated that the printed form packet employed consists of a plurality of superposed sheets or strips of paper so as to produce an original form, a duplicate, a triplicate, etc. It is accordingly necessary to interpose carbon sheets or like transfer medium between the superposed sheets in the packet so as to permit copies to be formed when the original or uppermost printed form is being lled in. The bars, shown at 19, are provided for the purpose of receiving and securing the interposed carbon sheets. The carbon sheets are preferably such as shown in Fig. 9. They are provided at one end with folding lines, indicated by dotted lines at 22 and 23, and each sheet is slit in an endwise direction, as indicated by the full lines 24, 25 and 26, thus forming two tabs of paper indicated at 27 and 28. When a carbon sheet is to be applied to a holding bar, the bar is placed on top of the carbon sheet, as shown in Fig. l0. The two tabs 27 and 28 are then folded over the'V-shaped faces 20 of the bar along the folding lines 23, see Fig. 11, and the two remaining tabs, indicated at 29 .and 30, are then folded onvtop of the tabs 27 and 28, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. This manner of folding the carbon sheets about the holding bars is of considerable importance, as will hereinafter appear. When the carbon sheets are to be interposed between the sheets of the form packet, they are folded about the holding bars in the manner just described and the bars are placed on the writing table between the sheets and the ends of the bars are then introduced into the openings 18a of the channel flanges. The bars and the sheets of carbon are thus held between the sheets of the form packet and carbon copies will be obtained when the uppermost form is filled in, whether by writing, typing, or otherwise.

` The type of printed form packet employed is preferably that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It consists of a series of superposed sheets or strips, such as indicated at C, D and E, the uppermost sheet being the original, the second sheet D a duplicate, and the third or lowermost sheet E a triplicate. Each sheet has identical or similar forms printed thereon, as shown in Fig. 1, and each sheet is transversely preforated between the forms as indicated at 31. The sheets are then superposed and folded in zigzag manner and a manifold packet containing superposed sheets is obtained. It will also be noted that each transverse perforated line is provided with an enlarged or elongated perforation or cut-out portion, such as indicated at 32. This cut away portion may be in the form of an elongated slot, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or it may be in the form of a straight cut or slit, such as indicated at 33 in Fig. 3. The function of the slot or slit portion of each transverse tear line will be later described.

In actual operation the packet shown in Fig. l is placed within the adjustable frame, as shown in Fig. 7, the cover plate and writing table having previously been opened, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to permit adjustment of the inner frame and introduction of the printed form packet. With the packet in place and while the cover plate and writing table are still open, the free ends of the sheet forming the form packet are passed upwardly over the front edge 34 of the table, and the holding bars with attached carbon sheets are introduced between each sheet of the printed form pad. The table is then lowered into writing position and the form sheets are advanced over the table until the forward edges engage the stop fingers 12. This insures manual registration of the printed forms on the superposed sheets and when this has been done the cover plate is closed and the form sheets are then ready to be lled in, as the cover plate is provided with a Window or opening which exposes the topmost form sheet, thus permitting this to be filled in by writing, typing or otherwise; the form sheets being held in a flattened condition by flanges 40 formed around the window opening. When the uppermost or original sheet is being lled in, for instance, by writing, simultaneous filling in of the lower sheets will be insured due to the interposed carbon or other transfer medium employed, and when the filling in operation has been completed it is only necessary for the operator to depress the stop mechanism and to grasp the forward edge of the several sheets at the points indicated at 50, see Fig. 4, space being provided at this point to grasp the sheets by the fingers due to the out away portion 16 formed in the writing table, and also in the cover plate, as indicated at 12a, see Fig. 5. The moment the sheets have been grasped and pulled forward a slight distance the stop mechanism may be released as the stop fingers 12 can not spring upwardly until an elongated slot or slit portion 32 or 33 is encountered. Hence, the operator merely pulls on the sheets until they are automatically stopped as they will be automatically stopped the moment a slot or slit portion 32 or 33 alignsr with the stop ngers. At this point the fingers will be automatically projected through the slot 32 and further advance of the form sheets will be automatically stopped. A tearing edge 52 is formed at the head of the cover plate. This tearing edge is divided into two sections 52 and 52a due to the central cut away portion 12a which, as previously stated, is provided first to form a free open space to permit the sheets to be grasped, and secondly to provide clearance for the free operation of the automatic stop mechanism. The tearing edges 52 and 52a align with each other and they also align with the perforated tear lines formed in the superposed sheets, hence the filled in forms may be readily torn oli as the central cut away portion 32 of each perforated sheet aligns with the clearance openings 16 and 12a while the transverse perforated lines on the opposite sides of the openings 32 align with the tear edges 52 and 52a. In view of the foregoing it will be noted that the stop mechanism serves three functions. It insures alignment between the perforated tear lines on the sheets and the tearing edges 52 and 52a, it automatically stops manual advance of the sheets when the next set of forms reach proper position, and it insures register of the printed forms on the sheets as the super-posed sheets are stopped when the stop fingers are automatically projected upwardly through the out away portions 32. This obviously can not take place unless the sheets register and properly align, hence if they do not align the operator must manually align the sheets so as to permit the stop fingers to be automatically projected.' The sheets of the form pad will normally align, but if they do not, manual alignment must be resorted to. v

In actual operation it was found that the slots 32, or slits 33 in the transverse tear lines gave some trouble, that is, paper which has been folded along the transverse tear lines has a tendency to retain that fold when it is being pulled away from the pad and upwardly over the writing table. Such a fold line is clearly shown at 60, see Fig. '7.l When this fold line passes over and between the holding bars whereby the carbon sheets are retained, the rearmost edge of the cut away portion 32 will tend to catch on one or another of the holding bars and thus cause tearing of the printed forms. Such catching and tearing was also encounteredin the uppermost sheet when the slot 32 passed under the cross bar 63 of the cover plate, see Fig. 4. This trouble was, however, readily overcome by forming an upwardly rounding deflecting lug, such as shown at 64, as any raised surface or edge presented by the paper when contacting with the rounded lug would be gradually pressed down and smoothed out, hence preventing tearing of the form. Similarly, where the printed forms passed over and between the holding bars 19 it was found that by providing the wedgeshaped surfaces 20 these would act to gradually depress and smooth out the-sheets so as to gradually depress any raised edge or surface and thus prevent tearing, hence the reason for forming the V-notches in the center of the folding bars 19 and the deiiecting lug 64 on the cover plate. This objection has accordingly been overcome in a simple manner and an autographic register has been produced which is exceedingly simple in construction and operation.

Actually the entire autographic register comprises an outer case, an inner adjustable frame to receive the form packet, a table to support the forms when they are to be lled in, a cover plate to hold the forms on the table, and a stop mechanism to automatically check and stop advance of the form sheets when they have been pulled into place. Hence, the mechanism employed has been reduced to an absolute minimum. The same may also be said of the form packet. No extra punching of the sheets is required to register the forms, as the transverse perforated tear lines are utilized for this purpose. ate just as efficiently whether the transverse tear lines are provided with a slot, as shown at 32, or a cut is made, such as shown at 33, hence either form may be employed.

Another important feature of the present invention is the method of lsupporting the interposed carbon sheets. In most autographic registers employed, the carbon sheets are placed transversely to the line of travel of the printed form sheets. The carbon sheets thus placed interpose an excess friction on the form sheets when they are being advanced, and furthermore, produces a condition whereby the carbon sheets are easily torn, that is the rear edges of the punched holes in the form sheets tend to catch on the edges of the carbon sheets and thereby cause tearing. By the present method the punched holes are of course entirely eliminated. Furthermore, the carbon sheets are interposed between the form sheets in such a manner that they lie in the same direction as the form sheets, hence when the form sheets are being advanced the carbon sheets merely oat between them. The frictional resistance is thus reduced and tearing is entirely avoided.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, we wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In an autographic register of the character described the combination with the Writing table and the casing supporting the same, of a mechanism whereby perforated sheets of paper fed over the table are automatically stopped when a predetermined position is reached, said mechanism comprising a plunger, a spring cooperating with the plunger and normally maintaining the same in a predetermined raised position, a pair of fingers carried by the plunger and engageable with the paper fed over the table, said paper during engagement with the fingers adapted to de- The stop fingers operpress the plunger against the spring tension, said spring also adapted to project the fingers through the paper when the fingers register with perforations formed in the paper, and a plate carried by the plunger and disposed between the ngers, said plate adapted to be manually engaged to depress the plunger and fingers.

2. In an autographic register the combination with a writing table and a casing supporting the same, of means within the casing for supporting a plurality of superposed elongated sheets, said sheets having a succession of forms printed thereon and each sheet being perforated transversely to form a tear line between the forms, said tear perforations being short but one central perforation being long, the free ends of said sheets adapted to be manually grasped and pulled out of one end of the casing and over the table to lie upon the table, one sheet above the other, and means engageable with the long perforations in the supei-posed sheets as they are being pulled over the surface of the table to stop the same so as to prevent removal of more than one section of perforated sheets at a time.

3. In an autographc register the combination with a writing table and a casing supporting the same, of means within the casing for supporting a plurality of superposed elongated sheets, said sheets having a succession of forms printed thereon and each sheet being perforated transversely to form a tear line between the forms, said tear perforations being short but one central perforation being long, the free ends of said sheets adapted to be manually grasped and pulled out of one end of the casing and over the table to lie upon the table, one sheet above the other, a depressible stop member engageable with the lowermost sheet and maintained in depressed position thereby, and means for automatically projecting said member upwardly through the long perforations in the sheets when the transverse long lines align therewith so as to prevent removal of more than one section of perforated sheets at a time.

JAMES A. MCKEE. CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON.. 

